THOUSANDS thrilled to the sight of Damon Hill being ridden around Greenwich by a German as Britain picked up yet another gold.

Individual dressage, or the 'horse dancing' as it became known online, took on a slightly surreal air in Greenwich Park with the addition of chart sounds from across the decades, including Phil Collins songs and 80s electro anthem Tainted Love.

Anky van Grunsven from the Netherlands on Salinero set an early tempo with a score of 82 per cent, but it was the last six riders, including the British contingent who were expected to pick up the medals. And so it proved.

German Helen Langehanenberg, riding the oddly named Damon Hill, went straight into pole position with an imperious display, scoring 84.303 and setting the benchmark for everyone that followed.

Next up was her team mate Dorothee Schneider, who decided to perform to music from bonkers ballet-cum-horror movie Black Swan, but a few misplaced hooves saw her docked marks. However, her finish was still less grisly than Natalie Portman's, ending up with 81.661.

GB's Laura Bechtolsheimer put in a magnificently controlled performance to songs from The Lion King, getting a roar from the crowd and landing 84.339 - enough to put her in provisional gold medal position.

Fellow Brit Carl Hester brought the spectators to their feet with a majestic display of horse shape-throwing that fell just short at 82.857 per cent.

That meant Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen was the only competitor who could deprive GB of a gold, moving in a stately fashion to music that included the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

And her whopping score of 88.250 flew her straight to the top with just one rider left.

Last up, British favourite Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro chose a selection of appropriately powerful music which included Olympic music maestro Paul McCartney's Live and Let Die along with World In Union and even recalling the last night of the Proms with Land of Hope and Glory.

And Union Jack flag-waving was assured, with Dujardin's impressive display earning her 90.089 - securing gold in dramatic fashion.

Bechtolsheimer finished up with bronze to cap another great British display